Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA and former Minister Mohammad Ashraf Mir today left the Government red-faced after he questioned the delay in finalization of Srinagar Master Plan.
While replying to the question of PDP MLA, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who is also Minister Incharge Housing and Urban Development Department, said, “the draft Master Plan of Srinagar has been prepared by the Chief Town Planner in consultation with all stakeholders and experts within and outside the State”.
“The draft Master Plan was put in public domain from May 2017 to October 6, 2017 for receiving objections and suggestions from general public”, the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding “a committee has been constituted by the Government for scrutinizing objections and suggestions”.
“Isn’t it the mockery of the system”, remarked PDP MLA while expressing inordinate delay in finalization of Srinagar Master Plan, adding “despite the lapse of three years the Government has failed to finalize the Master Plan, which otherwise is also aligned with the Smart City proposal”.
National Conference legislators Ali Mohammad Sagar and Shamima Firdous also joined the issue and said that they have not been consulted on the Master Plan for Srinagar city.
On this, Minister for Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation Javaid Mustafa Mir assured the House that the concerned legislators will be taken on board while finalizing the Master Plan for Srinagar city.
Meanwhile, two more ruling PDP legislators from border town of Karnah in North Kashmir today staged a sit-in at the entrance of the Assembly here to press for construction of tunnel at Sadhna Top along Kupwara- Tangdhar road, much to the embarrassment of Government.
MLA Raja Manzoor Ahmad Khan and MLC Javed Ahmad, holding a banner in support of their demand, staged the sit-in at the stairs of the Assembly minutes before the start of the day’s proceedings this morning.
“We are staging the protest to invite the attention of the State and the Central Governments towards the strategic importance of Sadhna Tunnel. The strategic road connecting the border towns with Kashmir remains closed for six months owing to heavy snowfall at Sadhna Top,” Khan told reporters.
He said the construction of the tunnel at Sadhna would make the road an all-weather link, help to save the lives of the people and is also important as far as defence point of view is concerned.
Ten civilians and a border roads organization (BRO) officer were killed in an avalanche at Sadhna top early this month, leading to massive protests in Karnah in support of the demand for the construction of the tunnel.
“We have suffered a lot after the division of the State due to the single road connectivity. Hundreds of people have lost their lives at Sadhna top while crossing the snow bound areas over the years. Before the division, we had the alternate connectivity through Teetwal crossing connecting this part of Kashmir with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” the legislator said.
He claimed that Pakistan Government with the help of China is constructing a tunnel in Leepa valley facing Karnah, which would provide defence advantage to other side.
“There is no doubt that the State Government has sent a proposal to the Centre for construction of the tunnel for approval and funding. We do not want the tunnel for tourism but for the safety of the people.
“We want Government of India to give due importance to the State Government’s proposal and sanction the project on priority,” he said.
He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had already taken up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
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